Taiwan debuts aerospace tech in Japan

2016/10/18

A Taiwan delegation comprised of four companies and led by National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology participated for the first time in this year’s Japan International Aerospace Exhibition Oct. 12-15 in Tokyo, showcasing a variety of Taiwan’s domestically developed defense systems and aerospace technologies.

The NCSIST is the primary research and development organization of the Ministry of National Defense, producing defense systems such as the Tien Kung and Tien Chien missiles. According to the institute, it is working to expand its presence in the international defense technology community by participating in exhibitions to display its well-developed products and form global partnerships.

NCSIST displayed 34 examples of some of its most innovative creations at the show, including drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles as well as frequency-hopping radios, cutting-edge ring laser gyroscopes and observation systems. According to the institute, its products, while initially designed for the defense industry, have civilian applications as well.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Committee for Aviation Industry Development, Taiwan’s aviation industry has recently experienced sizeable growth, with its annual production value reaching NT$91.4 billion (US$2.9 billion) in 2015, up 5 percent from the previous year.

The technologies of NCSIST were developed in line with the government’s five major industrial development objectives, which include bolstering the domestic defense industry, and are designed to harness the nation’s creativity to transform Taiwan into an innovation-based economy. The other four industries are biotech and pharmaceuticals, smart machinery, sustainable energy, and the Internet of Things and other smart technologies.

The government, hoping increased investment in the domestic defense industry will produce positive spillover effects, intends to raise Taiwan’s defense budget, which was NT$312.33 billion in 2015, from less than 2 percent to 3 percent of gross domestic product.

This year’s Japan Aerospace, a quadrennial exhibition, was the largest ever held in its 50-year history. With more than 630 exhibitors from over 30 countries, including international heavyweights Airbus, Boeing Co., Bell Helicopter, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin, among many others, the show attracted more than 22,000 visitors.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=248715&ctNode=2194&mp=9)